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Vol.47, n. 4 : pp. 575-577, August 2004 ISSN 1516-8913 Printed in Brazil BRAZILIAN ARCHIVES OF BIOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL

Reproductive Parameters of Lonomia obliqua Walker, 1855 (: ) in Laboratory

Lisete Maria Lorini1∗ Gisele Sana Rebelato2 and Juliano Bonatti2 1 Laboratório de Entomologia; Instituto de Ciências Biológicas; Universidade de Passo Fundo; [email protected]; C. P. 611; 99001-970; Passo Fundo - RS - Brazil. 2 Biólogos; Passo Fundo - RS - Brazil

ABSTRACT

Lonomia obliqua is an that has urticant spines in the larval stage. This species may cause death as a result of haemorrhages caused by a toxin released from the 's spines onto the skin of the victim. Since 1989 when this species was identified in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, many accidents have happened. The aim of this study was to verify the oviposition, fecundity, fertility, viability of eggs and incubation period of the species. Adults were left in a moth’s cage to mate and lay eggs. Thirteen couples were observed daily, and the number of eggs and the emerged were recorded. The results showed a mean of 2.8 (± 1.3) ovipositions, a mean fecundity of 135.3 (± 54.4) eggs/female, a mean fertility of 111.9 (± 55.4) eggs/female, a mean egg viability of 80.9 (± 20.97) % and a mean incubation period of 31.8 ( ± 5.8) days.

Key words: Lonomia obliqua, urticant caterpillar, public health, fecundity, fertility

INTRODUCTION 1998; Duarte et al.,1990; Burdmann et al. 1996). The poison from caterpillar spines of L. obliqua is Lonomia obliqua is an insect which has urticant linked to blood coagulation time interfering in the spines in the larval stage with a toxin of calcium activity, suggesting alteration in some haemorrhagic effects in human beings. Since 1989 coagulation factors (Kelen et al., 1995; Donato these larvae appeared in a higher frequency and et al., 1998). With the aim of improving the have been responsible for hundreds of accidents in knowledge on the biology of this species, the Southern Region of Brazil, including various reproductive parameters as number of fatalities registered (Duarte et al.,1990; Lorini, ovipositions, fecundity, fertility, eggs viability and 1993). Although the 26 species of the genus incubation period were investigated under Lonomia overspread along the American laboratory conditions. Continent (Lemaire, 1972) only L. obliqua and L. achelous are reported to provoke haemorrhagic effects in humans beings (Arocha-Pinãngo and MATERIAL AND METHODS Layrisse, 1969; Lorini 1997; Lorini, 1999). The main symptoms in human beings’ body from The caterpillars were collected in the field on caterpillar‘s contact are deep pain in the muscles, plants of Platanus acerifolia, in the boroughs of headache, bleeding, acute renal failure, Santa Cruz do Sul, Erechim, Guaporé, Passo haemorrhagic disorder and death (Abella et al., Fundo, Não-Me-Toque, São Jorge, Farroupilha

∗ Author for correspondence

Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology 576 Lorini, L. M. et al.

and Vila Lângaro, in Rio Grande do Sul, and the biology of L. circumstans found 17.1 days of Concórdia, in Santa Catarina, and maintained in incubation period but at laboratory conditions of the Laboratory of Entomology of the Science and 22ºC and 60% of relative humidity. The biological Biological Institute of University of Passo Fundo. aspects of L. obliqua are comparable to other The caterpillars were reared in the leaves of species of Saturniidae, which have similar biology Platanus acerifolia at mean temperature of 18.6ºC (Borges 1985 and Borges et al. 1986). These (ranging from 13ºC to 24ºC), mean relative authors studying the biology of Dirphia humidity of 80.6% (ranging from 64 % to 92 %), araucariae (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) found 4.7 and photophase of 12 hours. The pupae and adults ovipositions per female, fecundity of 239.2 eggs were reared following the methodology described per female, fertility of 110.1 eggs per female, the by Lorini (1999). After emergence, the adults were maximum egg viability of 57.3 % and 26.2 days sorted by sex according to the phenotipic for the incubation period at 25ºC. Santos et al. characteristics (Lorini, 1999). Thirteen couples (1996) working with another species of were reared in a wood cage with a nylon screen 90 Saturniidae, Hylesia nanus, found only 16.2 % of x 40 x 90 cm. The number of ovipositions per egg viability and 21.8 days of incubation period. female, the fecundity and the fertility of eggs were Although the caterpillars were collected from the recorded daily. The mean viability and the mean same host in the field and reared at the same incubation period of eggs with the respective laboratory conditions, some biological parameters standard deviation were calculated. varied as the number of ovipositions that ranged from 1 to 5 (Table 1). Also the egg viability ranged from 41.2 % to 96.6 % (Table 1). That RESULTS AND DISCUSSION probably was due the variation in climatic conditions on the boroughs where they were The mean number of ovipositions was 2.8 (± 1.3), collected and of temperature (13ºC to 24ºC) and the mean fecundity was 135.3 (± 54.4) eggs per relative humidity (64 % to 92 %) in the laboratory female, the mean fertility was 111.9 (± 55.4) eggs where the were reared during the per female, the mean egg viability was 80.9 % (± experiment. 21.0) and the mean period of incubation was 31.8 days (± 5.8) (Table 1). D’antonio (1983) studyind

Table 1 - Reproductive parameters of Lonomia obliqua in laboratory as number of ovipositions, fecundity, fertility, egg viability and incubation period (± standard deviation). University of Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil, 2000. Borough of Number of Fecundity Fertility Eggs viability Incubation period Female collection ovipositions (eggs/female) (eggs/female) (%) (days) 1 S.C. do Sul 1 89 79 88.76 36.02 (± 1.4320) 2 Erechim 4 177 171 96.61 35.34 (± 0.5458) 3 Concórdia 1 44 21 47.73 26.86 (± 1.4684) 4 Guaporé 5 183 84 45.90 20.55 (± 0.5467) 5 P. Fundo 1 69 64 92.75 20.27 (± 0.4794) 6 N.M.Toque 3 183 146 79.78 37.94 (± 1.7131) 7 N.M.Toque 4 161 154 95.65 36.92 (± 0.4566) 8 São Jorge 3 78 73 93.58 32.82 (± 1.3159) 9 Farroupilha 4 128 114 89.06 33.32 (± 1.1559) 10 Farroupilha 2 223 202 90.58 33.19 (± 0.7729) 11 Farroupilha 3 102 42 41.17 35.81 (± 1.8377) 12 Farroupilha 3 172 162 94.18 33.76 (± 1.7747) 13 V. Lângaro 2 150 143 95.33 31.00 (± 0.0000) Mean - 2.77 135.30 111.92 80.85 31.83 Standard - 1.30 54.40 55.41 20.97 5.80 deviation

Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology Reproductive Parameters of Lonomia Obliqua Walker, 1855 (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) in Laboratory 577

RESUMO Duarte, A. C.; Caovilla, J; Lorini, I. ; Lorini, D.; Mantovani, G.; Sumida, J.; Manfre, P. C.; Silveira, R. O objetivo desse trabalho foi estudar os C. and Moura, S. P. (1990), Insuficiência renal aguda parâmetros biológicos de oviposição, fecundidade, por acidentes com lagartas. Jornal Brasileiro de Nefrologia, 12, 184-187. fertilidade, viabilidade dos ovos e período de Donato, J. L.; Moreno, R. A.; Hyslop, S.; Duarte, A. C.; incubação de Lonomia obliqua Walker, 1855, em Antunes, E.; Le Bonniec, B. F.; Rendu, F. and Nucci, laboratório. As lagartas foram coletadas no campo G. (1998), Lonomia obliqua caterpillar spicules nos municípios de Santa Cruz do Sul, Erechim, trigger human blood coagulation via fator X and Guaporé, Passo Fundo, Não-Me-Toque, São Jorge, prothrombin. Thromb Haemost., 79, 539-542. Farroupilha e Vila Lângaro, no Rio Grande do Sul, Kelen, E. M. A.; Picarelli, Z. P. and Duarte, A. C. e Concórdia em Santa Catarina. As lagartas foram (1995), Hemorrhagic syndrome induced by mantidas em sala de criação, com a leitura diária caterpillars of the genus Lonomia (Saturniidae, da temperatura e umidade relativa do ar, até a ). Journal of Toxinology, Toxin emergência dos adultos. Após a sexagem, cada Reviews, 14, 283-308. Lemaire, C. (1972), Revision du genre Lonomia casal foi colocado em uma gaiola para Walker, [Lep., Attacidae]. Annales de la Societé acasalamento e postura. Acompanhou-se, Entomologique de France, 8, 767-861. diariamente, as posturas das fêmeas e a eclosão Lorini, I. (1993), Taturana: a lagarta que mata. das lagartas, determinando-se o número de EMBRAPA-CNPT. 6 pp. posturas por fêmea, a fecundidade, a fertilidade, a Lorini, L. M. (1997), Aspectos biológicos e viabilidade e o período de incubação dos ovos. O morfológicos de Lonomia obliqua Walker, 1855 número médio de oviposições foi de 2,8 (± 1,3), (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae), em laboratório. Mestrado fecundidade média de 135,30 (± 54,4) ovos por (Dissertação), Pontifícia Universidade Católica do ± Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS. fêmea, fertilidade média de 111,9 ( 55,4) ovos Lorini, L. M. (1999), A Taturana: Aspectos biológicos e por fêmea. A viabilidade média dos ovos foi de morfológicos da Lonomia obliqua. Passo Fundo : 80,9 (± 21,0) % e obteve-se um período médio de EDIUPF. 67 pp. incubação de 31,8 (± 5,8) dias. Santos, G. P.; Zanuncio, T. V.; Dias, O. S. and Zanuncio, J. C. (1996), Biologia de Hylesia nanus (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Attacidae). Anais da REFERENCES Sociedade Entomológica do Brasil, 25, 479-482.

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